"Simon Harris Emerges as Top Contender for Ireland's Prime Minister Post"

Simon Harris is the frontrunner to become Ireland's new leader after three potential competitors, including Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys, and Helen McEntee, ruled themselves out of the Fine Gael party's leadership race. Nominations for the new leader opened on Thursday, and if there is to be a contest, the winner will be announced on April 5th. Harris, the current minister for further and higher education, has garnered significant support and is seen as the favorite to succeed Leo Varadkar as the next taoiseach.